idc-logo
svg rectangle color
City of AdelaideCommunity profile

City of Adelaide

Education institution attending

In 2021, 5,731 people in the City of Adelaide were attending university. This represents 22.9% of the population, compared to 5.6% in Greater Adelaide.

The share of the City of Adelaide's population attending educational institutions reflects the age structure of the population, as it is influenced by the number of children attending school; proximity to tertiary education, which can mean young adults leaving home to be nearer to educational facilities and; the degree to which people are seeking out educational opportunities in adulthood, especially in their late teens and early twenties.

This data is often combined with Age Structure to identify areas with significant university student populations.

Learn more about planning education provision here.

Q:

Derived from the Census question:

'What type of educational institution is the person attending?'

Education institution attending
City of Adelaide - Total persons (Usual residence)20212001Change
Type of institutionNumber%Greater Adelaide %Number%Greater Adelaide %2001 to 2021
Pre-school1510.61.6450.31.2+106
Primary school6782.78.53052.39.7+373
Primary - Government4601.85.51551.26.5+305
Primary - Catholic780.31.6390.31.8+39
Primary - Independent1400.61.31110.91.4+29
Secondary school4651.95.93102.46.1+155
Secondary - Government2391.03.01010.83.6+138
Secondary - Catholic650.31.4520.41.3+13
Secondary - Independent1610.61.51571.21.3+4
TAFE/Vocational7493.02.33512.72.6+398
University5,73122.95.62,28217.64.1+3,449
Other3501.40.91691.30.8+181
Not attending14,89559.571.48,12662.572.0+6,769
Not stated2,0008.03.91,41310.93.4+587
Total25,019100.0100.013,001100.0100.0+12,018
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2001 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).
Please refer to specific data notes for more information

Dominant groups

Analysis of the share of the population attending educational institutions in the City of Adelaide in 2021 compared to Greater Adelaide shows that there was a lower proportion attending primary school, a lower proportion attending secondary school, and a higher proportion engaged in tertiary level education.

Overall, 2.7% of the population were attending primary school, 1.9% of the population were attending secondary institutions, and 25.9% were learning at a tertiary level, compared with 8.5%, 5.9% and 7.9% respectively for Greater Adelaide.

The major differences between the share of the population attending learning institutions in the City of Adelaide and Greater Adelaide were:

  • A larger percentage of persons attending University (22.9% compared to 5.6%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons not attending (59.5% compared to 71.4%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons attending a primary school (any type) (2.7% compared to 8.5%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons attending a secondary school (any type) (1.9% compared to 5.9%)

Emerging groups

From 2001 to 2021, City of Adelaide's population increased by 12,018 people (+92.4%). This represents an average annual change of 3.33% per year over the period.

The largest changes in the number of persons attending education institutions in the City of Adelaide, between 2001 and 2021 were in those who nominated:

  • University (+3,449 persons)
  • TAFE/Vocational (+398 persons)
  • Primary school (+373 persons)
  • Primary - Government (+305 persons)

DISCLAIMER: While all due care has been taken to ensure that the content of this website is accurate and current, there may be errors or omissions in it and no legal responsibility is accepted for the information and opinions in this website.

Please view our Privacy Policy, Terms of use and Legal notices.

ABS Data and the copyright in the ABS Data remains the property of the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The copyright in the way .id has modified, transformed or reconfigured the ABS Data as published on this website remains the property of .id. ABS Data can be accessed from the Australian Bureau of Statistics at www.abs.gov.au. ABS data can be used under license - terms published on ABS website. intermediary.management@abs.gov.au if you have any queries or wish to distribute any ABS data.